Can family members work at the same unit?

imenid37 · Jan 30, 2010

I had a clinical experience in a facility where identical twin brothers both worked in one of the ICU's. One was an RN. The other was an LPN.

kcochrane · Jan 30, 2010

My old facility has a policy against working on the same unit on the same shift. In some cases in can work out, in others it doesn't. It really depends on the family dynamics.

I'm not sure about my new facility. Didn't hear it mentioned at orientation.

Cammer · Jan 30, 2010

i know i couldn't work with either my mother or my sister . . . but i've worked on the same unit with my husband for 15 years and that worked out great. in fact, that's how i met him.

in my current job, there is a married couple where the wife supervises her husband. since she does the schedule, he never has to work night shifts, weekends or "minor holidays" (those that aren't mandated.) he spends most of his shift in the break room while others answer his call lights and handle requests from his patients. and another couple on the unit where my husband now works -- he's the manager, she's a staff nurse. she gets exactly the schedule she wants, and other people get moved around. when she's working weekends, she takes her key to his office and "hides" in there so she doesn't get asked to help out. her reviews are always far better than they deserve to be, and everyone knows not to ask her for favors.

and in my last job, there was a married couple who were both staff nurses. he got promoted to assistant manager, and one of the first things she did was spread the word that she had his ear, and if anyone wanted her to put in a special word for them, she'd be happy to do so if they'd switch shifts, patients or whatever with her. he didn't last long in the position, and i think a big part of it was his wife's behavior.

stories like this are exactly why it is a very bad idea to mix supervisors with family. it doesn't matter if the stories are true or not, the negative gossip that stems from these situations is horrible for morale, can undermine patient care, decrease patient satisfaction, and increase employee turnover rates.

in the past i have seen policies where family members are allowed to work together, except in cases where one supervises the other. there is too much danger of nepotism in those cases. nepotism, or rumors of nepotism, are best avoided by just avoiding the whole situation.

thehipcrip · Jan 31, 2010

Two of the best nurses I ever had as a patient were husband and wife RNs. They worked nights on the neuro floor and could flip a Stryker frame faster and more smoothly than any other pair of nurses on the floor. (I'm really dating myself, aren't I?)

NurseKatie08, MSN · Jan 31, 2010

We have family members employed on the same unit in my facility. On my unit there is a RN who works evenings, and her mom is a CNA on days. Also we have a pair of sisters who are LPNs on my unit-they don't typically work the same shift, and their younger sister works in activities. We also have two nurses whose sons work in the kitchen. I think my facility's policy is so long as one family member is not supervising the other.